Electric fire-alarm system.



No. 64|,'950. Paentedlan. 23, |900. M. GARL.

ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

(Application led Sept. 12, 1899.)

(N0 MOBL) 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

No. 641,950. Patented lan. 23, |900. M.GARL.

ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

(Application filed Sept. 12, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 SheeS-Shei 2,

Yue-Manns Psrzns co, vumouuo., WASHINGTON, u, c,

Nrra -rnrns MANIOUS GARL, OF AKRON, OHIO.

ELECTRIC FIRE-ALARM SYSTEIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,950, dated January 23, 1900.

' Application flled September 12, 1899l Serial No. 730,269. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, MANIOUS GARL, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Fire-Alarm Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric tire-alarm systems, the same being particularly adapted for use in hotels, warehouses, and the like, the object of the invention being to provide an automatic protective system by means of which an alarm will be given in case of fire at a point near the conflagration and also at a central office or station and in which an alarm may be sent to all parts of the house from the central ofce or station.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of signaling device to be used on the system by means of which an alarm loud enough to awaken the soundest sleeper may be given.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speciiication, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrative of my improved system. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the switch-box. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the dierent views.

The system as a whole is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which 1 and 2 indicate two of a series of signaling devices located in different rooms, in the hallways, or at other convenient points of the hotel or other building to be protected, the same being connected through the wires 3 and 4, respectively, with the general return-wire 5, leading to one pole of the battery 6. The signaling device 7, similar in all respects tothe signaling devices 1 and 2, is located in 'the central station or office of the hotel, the same being connected through the wire 8 with the other pole of the battery 6. From the device 7 leads the wire 9, connected through the wires 10, 11, and 12 with the thermostatic circuit-closers 13, 14, and 15, respectively, and through the wires 16, 17, and 18 with the thermostatic circuitclosers 19,20, and 21. The said circuit-closers are arranged in multiple, as shown, and are connected through the Wires 22, 23, 24, and 25 and 26, 27, 28, and 29 with the signaling devices 1 and 2 on the side opposite that from which the wires 3 and 4, heretofore referred to, lead. The circuits from the battery 6 through the signaling devices 1, 2, and 7 are normally open, but are adapted to be closed by means of the thermostatic circuit-@losers referred to, and when closed through any one of these devices the signaling device 7 is placed in series with the signaling device 1 and 2, which is controlled by the circuit-closer which has been actuated. Say, for example, that the circuit is closed through the circuitcloser 13, the i'low of current will then be from battery 6 through wire 8 to signaling device 7, actuating the latter, and thence through wires 9 and 10, circuit-closer 13, wires 24 25, signalin g device l, and wires 3 and 5 to battery. A signal will thus be given by bot-h of the devices 1 and 7, notifying the office of the hotel and the occupants of the building adjacent to the point of coniiagration. The same result will take place if any one of the other circuitclosers connected with the signaling device 1 be actuated. The same result will also take place, except that the signaling device 2 will be actuated, if the circuit be closed through any one of the circuit-closers 19, 20, or 21. Push-buttons 30 31 are provided, preferably inclosed in glass cases and in multiple through the wires 32 33 and 34 35, with the circuitclosers connected, respectively, with the signaling devices 1 and 2. Through these pushbuttons the circuit through the signaling devices l and 7 or 2 and 7 may be closed by hand. In this way the alarm may be given manually in case the automatic circuit-closers fail to act or in the event that it is desired to vtest the circuits. Also located in the central station or oiiice of the hotel is a switch-box 36, having a plurality of bindingposts 37 37 thereon, which constitute the terminals of circuits through the wires 38 and 39 from the signal.- ing devices 1 and 2, respectively.

ing-posts are mounted upon a disk or plate 40, of insulating material, extend therethrough, and are provided with contacts 4l on the under side of said disk. These contacts are These bind- IOO adapted to be engaged by a rotatable arm 42, mounted upon a spindle or arbor 43, which arm is electrically connected with one pole of the battery 6 through the wire 44. The spindle or arboris adapted to be rotated by a coilspring 45, and the mechanism ot' the switch includes a system of gearing with which cooperates an escapement 46, having an arm 47 thereon. The normal tendency of the spring 45 is to rotate the spindle or arbor 43 and carry the arm 42 around, so that it makes contact in succession with each one of the contact-points 4l on the under side of the binding-posts 37. This spring is controlled and the arm 42 is held locked in any position by means of a lever 48, fulcrumed upon the under side of the base of the switch-box 36 and having an upwardlyextending pin or arm 49 projecting through a segmental slot 50 in said base and adapted to engage the arm 47 of the escapement 46. It will be seen that as the points of pivotal connection between'the arm 47 and the switch-box and between the lever 48 and the switch-box are out of alinement with each other when the lever 48 is moved so as to bring the pin 49 thereon into engagement with the arm 47 said escapement will be locked against rocking movement, and as this escapement controls the gearing between it and the spindle or arbor 43 said spindle or arbor and the arm 42, carried thereby, will be locked in any position to which it may have been moved. By moving the lever 48 in the opposite direction, so as to throw the pin 49 out of contact with the arm 47, the escapement 46 is free to rock, and the spring 45 is thereby free to actuate the spindle which carries the arm 42. As shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the arm 42 is locked at a point between two of the contact-pieces 4l, and no current can flow therefore through either one of the wires 38 or 39. If afteran alarm has been sent to the central station or ofce in the hotel, however, it is desired to give the alarm throughout the building, it is merely necessary to move the lever 48 so as to release the escapement 46, when the spring 45 will cause the rotation of the spindle 43 and the arm 42, carried thereby. This arm during this rotation makes contact with each one of the contact-points 4l at the lower ends of the binding-posts 37. The result is that an alarm is sent to each one of the signaling devices l and 2 throughout the building protected. When, for example, the arm 42 is in contact with the contact-point 4l, which constitutes the terminal of the circuit through the wire 38,the flow of current will be from battery 6 through wire 44, arm 42, contact-point 4l, wires 38 and 25, to signaling device l and back to the battery through the wires 3 and 5. The signaling device l will therefore be actuated and the alarm given thereby. A similar operation with respect to the signaling device 2 will be effected when the arm 42 is in contact with the contact-point 4l, which constitutes the terminal of the circuit through the wire 39.

and engage the poles of said magnet.

The use of bells as tire-alarm signaling devices has proved totally ineffective and unsatisfactory, for the reason that the sound produced thereby is not loud or penetrating enough to awaken many sleepers and is so common, particularly in large cities, that even when it is heard it is unheeded. I have provided an improved construction of signaling device by means of which a blank cartridge of suitable size may be ired for the purpose of giving an alarm of fire. This is much more effective in actual use than the ordinary bell in that the sound produced thereby is louder and more penetrating and in that it is more certain to rouse a sleeping person by reason of the fact that it is of an unusual character. The same consists of a pendant 5l, secured to the ceiling or other convenient place, comprising a shell or casing 52, of wood or other insulating material, and a depending cylindrical tube 53, having an internal annular iiange 54 at a point adjacent to its lower end and internal screw-threads just below the flange 54. Adapted to screw into the lower end of the tube 53 is a plug 55, having a central cylindrical aperture 56 therein, provided for the reception of a blank cartridge. Secured to the lower end of the plug 55 isaguard 57, preferably made from a strip of sheet metal bent into U shape, with its ends secured to the opposite sides of said plug. This guard serves to prevent the wad which retains the charge of powder in the cartridge from being projected downwardly with force suficient to injure a person who might be struck thereby. The open sides of the guard, however, provide for the escape of the gases generated. The cartridge is placed in the plug 55 with its base uppermost, and the same is Iired by means of an exploder 58, consisting of a heavy cylindrical bar having an external annular Harige or shoulder 59 thereon, which is adapted to engage the internal annular flange 54 on the tube 53 for limiting its downward movement, and provided with a pointed projection or firing-pin 60, which when said exploder is dropped engages the cap of the cartridge in the plug 55 and lfires the same. The eXploder 58 is retained normally in its raised position by the engagement of a iiange or shoulder 6l thereon with the armature 62 of an electromagnet 63. Said armature is pivoted along its lower edge and is normally held away from the poles of the magnet 63 by means of springs 64, of copper or other non-magnetic material, which are secured to said armature When the magnet is energized by the passage of an electric current through the coils thereof, the armature 62 is drawn toward said magnet and away from the exploder 58. Said exploder then drops by gravity and fires the cartridge in the plug 55 in the manner heretofore described.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have devised an extremely simple and effective automatic fire-alarm sys- IOO IIO

tem and also an extremely eifective signaling device to be used in connection therewith, by means of which an alarm which will be effective is rousing the soundest sleeper may be given. In Fig. l, illustrating the system, I have shown but two of these signaling devices in the building which is to be protected; but it is obvious that any number might be employed. I have also illustrated and described certain details of construction; but I do not limit myself to any of these details, except as is set forth in the claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an electric dre-alarm system, a signaling device at a central station, and a plurality of the same at distances therefrom, a battery, circuit connections between the distant signaling devices and one side of said battery, circuit connections between each of the distant signaling devices, the signaling device at the central station, and the other side of said battery, and circuit-controlling means for throwing into operation each of the distant signaling devices and simultaneously placing the signaling device at the central station in series therewith, whereby the signaling device at the central station and the distant signaling device which has been thrown into operation will be actuated simultaneously.

2. In an electric fire-alarm system, a signaling device at a central station and a plurality of the same at distances therefrom, a battery, a general return-wire connected with one side of each of the distant signaling devices and with one pole of said battery, circuit connections between each of the distant signaling devices, the signaling device at the central station and the other side of said battery, and a plurality of thermostatic circuit-controllers for each of the distant signaling devices, the said circuit-controllers being in multiple with each other and adapted to throw into operation one or the other of said distant signaling devices and to place in series therewith the signaling device of the central station, whereby the signaling device at the central station and the distant signaling device which has been thrown into operation will be actuated simultaneously.

3. In an electric fire-alarm system, a signaling device at a central station and a plurality of the same at distances therefrom, a battery, circuit connections between said battery and said signaling devices, circuit controlling means for placing one of the distant signaling devices in series with the signaling device of the central station and for actuating both simultaneously, and circuit-controlling means at the central station for throwing the distant signaling devices into operation.

4. In an electric fire-alarm system, the combination with a signaling device at a central station and a plurality of the same at distances therefrom, a battery, circuit connections between the distant signaling devices and one side of said battery, circuit connections between each of the distant signaling devices and the other side of said battery through the signaling device at the central station, circuit-controllers for each of the distant signaling devices for throwing into operation the distant signaling devices, coupling in series therewith the signaling device at the central station and thereby actuating both of said signaling devices simultaneously, of a switch, contact-points thereon forming the terminals of circuits leading from the distant signaling devices, and a rotatable ar'm connected with said battery and adapted to engage each of the contact-points on said switch, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an electric fire-alarm system, asignaling device comprising a cartridgeholder, a gravity-actuated eXploder therefor, having a shoulder thereon, an electromagnet and an armature for said magnet lying within the path of movement of said exploder and adapted to engage said shoulder for retaining said eXploder in raised position and to be released therefrom by said magnet.

6. In an electric fire-alarm system, a signaling device consisting of a pendant having a casing and a cylindrical extension thereon, a cartridge-holding plug fitting the lower end of said extension, a gravity actuated eX- ploder for the cartridge movable in said tubular extension, means for retaining said eX- ploder in raised position and an electromag= net in said casing for releasing said eX ploder.

7. In an electric fire-alarm system, asignaling device consisting of a pendant having a casing and a cylindrical extension thereon, a cartridge-holding plug fitting the lower end of said extension, a gravity actuated exploder forthe cartridge movablein said tubular extension, and having a flange or shoulder thereon, an electromagnet in said casing and an armature therefor adapted to engage said shoulder for retaining said eXploder in its raised position and adapted to be released by said magnet.

8. In an electric iireealarm system, asignaling device consisting of a pendant having a casing and a cylindrical extension thereon, a cartridge-holding plug fitting the lower end of said extension, a guard on said plug, an eX- ploder for the cartridge, and means controlled by an electromagnet for throwing said eX- ploder into operation.

9. In an electric fire-alarm system, a plurality of signaling devices, a battery, circuit connections between said signaling devices and one side of said battery, a switch-box, contact-points thereon, circuit connections between said signaling devices and said contact-points, a traveling arm electrically connected with the other side of said battery and adapted to engage each of said contacts, a motor for rotating said arm including a system of gearing, and a vibrating escapement IOO IIO

having an arm thereon, and a, lever fulmy hand in presence of two subscribing witorumed to the switch-box and having a pin nesses. or projection-thereon adapted to engage the v arm on said escapelnent whereby said motor MANIOUS GARL' 5 may be controlled, as and for the purpose set Witnesses:

forth. WM. M. STOCKBRIDGE,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set i GEO. W'. REA. 

